A continuation of the life and times of 8-yr-old Debora as she lives through the trying times of cultural changes from small town to rural poverty and back to the place, they called home. Those changes were worse going back home to Pine Bluff than when they moved to Slot Pot. Being unaccepted by her peers, she had become an outcast to everyone, and she could not understand why. Being rejected by everyone made it harder to reclaim her space in her comfort zone- her refuge, her home.
Even her teacher, who was supposed be the voice of welcome and encouragement, judged her intelligence by how she looked and not by her character. There was no testing involved before placing her in the bottom third of the class. Debora knew she had to put her best foot forward, to gain some type of respect. She made it her business to remind them that you cannot judge a book by its cover. She put forth all she had within herself and proved to all, that she was more than what meets the eye.